Thursday, August 20, 2009

Pondering the compassionate release story…

Let’s jump right on it.

On December 21, 1988 Pan Am flight 103 blew up over the town of Lockerbie Scotland. 259 people on the flight were killed. 11 people were killed on the ground. I remember this incident well…watching the news break, finding out that American students returning home for the holidays were killed and then watching the painstaking investigation in subsequent coverage. I remember the final conclusion that the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 was the result of state sponsored terrorism and that Libya was the culprit.

The Pan Am 103 bombing was a huge news story and one of the first in my memory that highlighted the threat of state sponsored terrorism…that nations would attack other nations by targeting citizens through terrorism.

The United States under the Reagan administration had engaged in military strikes against Libya. Back in the mid-80’s, Muammar al-Gaddafi was the enemy…the evil foe of the United States bent on the destruction of our nation and way of life. And so we engaged in a game of chess using live weapons and the American people were told that Libya was behind multiple terrorist incidents, most notably the bombing of Pan Am 103.

Libya was the enemy…regime change was needed…those who loved freedom must hate Libya.

It is important to note that 11 people died on the ground…that this is not a case of Scotland leveling compassion for a crime it was not been touched by.

In many ways the debate over what this release says about Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi’s innocence or guilt is moot…his release is not exoneration.

What the press has thus far failed to explore is that the compassionate release of the only individual convicted in the Pan Am 103 bombing offends many because of that normalization of relations back in 2006…because it feels as if all responsible parties involved have been let off the hook.

That is something worth pondering as we continue to wage war…that one day our enemy will no longer be our enemy. We would be wise to contemplate what that means. One day we will normalize relations with Afghanistan and Iraq…just as the Bush administration normalized relations with Libya…just as we no longer make movies about Soviets invading America while fresh faced rural youth taking up arms to protect our way of life from godless communists bent on conquering the world.

The propaganda lingers long after one diplomatic game is over and a new game of chess begins…and the masses are left to struggle with the meaning of it all even as we reassemble on the board.

Mind you, the initial aggressors are supposed to be the ChiComs -- you know, the people to whom we're in hock for damn near all we're worth -- with the Russkies only joining in later. As though the Chinese could do more damage to us militarily than by calling in or debts and/or cutting off our supply of Cheap Shit.

"It is important to note that 11 people died on the ground…that this is not a case of Scotland leveling compassion for a crime it was not been touched by."

Thank you for mentioning this. American anger is entirely understandable, but it's not the only component. I admire the fact that the Scots have shown themselves to be *better* than the murderers of innocents - that even the worst crimes can't debase their own core human value and dignity.

I'm Australian and was opposed to the death sentences on the Bali Bombers for the same reason. If savagery makes you a savage, then the terrorists truly win.

I would suggest that this particularly rank witch's brew is a great deal more complicated than you suggest. Also, it was not Bush who normalised relations with Libya, but Gaddafi, realising with the example of Saddam that he might be next, who normalised relations with America.

You need to take into account the British government's very strong desire for Britsh Petroleum (BP) to have several difficulties smoothed away that have hitherto slowed their explorations in Libya. In addition, the attitude of the Scots nationalists who run the distinct legal system in Scotland should not be ignored. This little piece of publicity gives them an opportunity to "strut their hour" upon an international stage, to give the British government the finger and also to indulge the insipient anti-Americanism with which they are infected. A win-win-win situation for them!

'Oprah' and 'HilBilly' have made the right ritualistic noises and the whole thing will be off the headlines by tomorrow and forgotten by them by the day after.

The only certainty is that no-one, at any time, in any way, allowed compassion to enter the decision-making process.

I agree with David Duff above. The core architect of this little show was Tony B. Liar, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, who started cosying up to Gadaffi in 2002, the double promise of oil exploration rights for BP and Libyan orders for British armaments shining in his twitchy little eyes. Oh, and let's not forget the role of Air-Miles Andy, the Oaf Prince, in establishing friendly links with Gaddafi's son... who let the cat out of the bag on Megrahi's return to Libya!

The release was simply an excuse to 'normalise' relations between Libya and the UK, in the interests of trade. As always under the fine socialist-principled banner of 'New' Labour government, it's money that talks loudest.